The DIY Rewiring Basics You Need to Know

Whether you’re installing new lights, a home theater or a thermostat, electrical rewiring knowledge is precious. Rewiring your house isn’t necessarily difficult, but any project surrounding electricity should be taken with care. Don’t cross your wires, don’t approach a project lightly and check out these rewiring tips:

Tip One: Use a Copper Wire as a Grounder

If your home is old, you might not have a viable grounding spot. In this case, you should purchase a three-wire “Romex,” which will act as a grounding conductor. Comprised of three, bare copper wires, a Romex is entirely necessary when working on long electrical projects.

Tip Two: Find Your Home’s Service Entry

To work on your home’s electrical system, you’ll need to find its service entry. A household’s service entry is an opening wherein electrical service units are stored. The service are grants access to a home’s main grid, and it’ll give you the space needed to target different electrical points. A service entry, typically, is about 10 feet above ground and is not accessible by any window. Check your home’s blueprints.

Tip Three: Stock the Toolbox

Before you hop to work, be sure to secure the tools your job needs. Make sure you have wire strippers, an insulated screwdriver, a swivel screwdriver, needle-nose pliers and electrical tape. These are your “basic” electrical maintenance supplies, and they should get you through most projects. Over time, consider purchasing a cable ripper, circuit testers and a labeling machine for advanced projects.

Tip Four: Find Your Home’s Main Service Panel

Your household’s breaker box needs to be located, too. It distributes power across your home’s circuits, and it’ll be incredibly important to your project. Every circuit has a fuse, and every part of your house can be shut down if an overload or short circuit occurs. Take care with your circuit breaker panel, and always remove power from whatever part of the house you’re working on.

Tip Five: Check Your Electrical Tape’s UL Rating

While most electrical tape is similar, several products carry different UL ratings. If your tape doesn’t have an Underwriters Laboratory mark, don’t purchase it. Electrical tape without these ratings can fail, leaving you exposed to active electrical currents.

As you become educated on electrical work, don’t hesitate to ask for professional help. Many providers can offer incredible advice, and many can outfit your mental toolbox with a few tips, tricks and long-lasting techniques.